Helping Update

Last December I told you about my plan to start helping people I see when I'm driving in Richmond, standing near stop lights, holding signs asking for food or money.  I made up a bunch of packets of crackers, a drink, and a few dollars, and put them in my car.  The first dozen packets also included a small handmade card that said "Merry Christmas, God loves you!"  I've since realized that the card isn't necessary; I just say "Here's something for you.  Have a nice day!" or something similar when I hand out a packet.

I was so nervous the first time I rolled down the car window and held a packet out to a homeless man!  That feeling didn't last long though; after I'd done it a few times, it became really fun!  Now I scan the streetcorners as I drive along, and if I see someone standing there holding a sign, I try to time it so I will be able to stop at the light and give him a little gift!  (To be on the safe side, I keep all the doors locked and only roll down the window part way.)

I always hold the packet out with the money on top, so they will be sure to want it!  Last week, though, when my daughter was with me, we had our first refusal.  We were three cars back from the stoplight, and she held the packet out the window.  The guy looked at it and made a sour face, then rubbed his belly, and stayed put!  I took that to mean he had an upset stomach.  A moment later he had second thoughts, and approached our car; Jenna handed him the packet and when he saw the money and the drink, he was pretty happy about it, and thanked us profusely!

A few weeks before that we had our best reaction.  Jenna was with me again, and she held out the packet, and the young man came over, exclaiming "All right!  That's all right!!"  Then he thanked us about ten times, and as the light changed and we started moving, he ran alongside the car for a moment and yelled "I love y'all!!"

I keep a bunch of these "goodie bags" in the car all the time now, so I'm always prepared.  It's an easy and fun way to reach out and do some good in the world.  If you have the chance, you should try it!

Helping

A few Sundays ago in church, we heard one of my favorite Bible passages from the Book of Proverbs, about a virtuous wife.  This part really speaks to me:

"She obtains wool and flax and works with loving hands.  She puts her hands to the distaff, and her fingers ply the spindle.  She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy..."

I personally don't know what a distaff is, and I don't use a spindle; but I do sew things every day and I do work with loving hands, so I feel like a modern-day version of the virtuous wife.  But the last line bugged me, because it's been a while since I could say that I have reached out to the poor and needy.

On Monday, as on most Mondays, I drive my daughter back to college, 45 minutes away in Richmond, Virginia.  When we get off the highway in Richmond, there are 5 or 6 stoplights to go through before we reach her dorm; and at every stoplight, there is a different rough-looking man, holding a cardboard sign that says something like "Hungry, please help".  If we happen to be near the front of the line at the stoplight, the man walks slowly past our car, looking right at us, holding his sign prominently.  I've always looked straight ahead, ignoring them as much as possible, and feeling very uncomfortable.

But not any more!!  I've decided to do something for them.  Apparently, the standard thing to do is to wave a dollar out your car window, and the man will come over and get it (I saw that happen this week). 

When I got home, I pulled out the cash box that I haven't touched since I stopped doing craft shows a couple of years ago, and lookie what I found:

MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!!!! 
Those are all the one-dollar bills I had for making change in my craft booth.  I had no idea I had so much money sitting around--it looks like about $100 in ones.

So here's my plan:  I want to give each person I encounter $2, plus a snack (they must get hungry and thirsty standing there for hours on end); I will bag it up like this:

I'm thinking of adding a hand-made card like the one next to the baggie; but I'm not sure what to write on it.  "Have a nice day"?  "Don't worry be happy"?  Hmmm.  I don't want to sound like a dork, or worse, insensitive or condescending.  What would you write on the card?  Help me out with your comment, below.  Thanks.

Hearts, and Hope for Amanda

I love hearts!  I love making hearts! Even my Craftster username is Leslieshappyheart!

Last month I showed you the hearts I made for a personal swap on Craftster (Box of Hearts), and I am currently in the Jar of Hearts swap.  I sent out my hearts on Friday, and they are all going to be delivered today, so I don't think I will spoil any surprizes by posting pictures here!  They will all show up in the gallery this week, so you, my readers, will get this sneak preview!

The pink-and-white heart on the upper right was made from a piece of an old cut-up quilt that my friend Susan gave me.  The red button-y heart on the bottom right is my favorite!

I have 5 official partners, and one unofficial (she only asked for one partner, but then wished for more, so I am doing a personal swap with her).  Each partner gets 5 hearts.

Some of the hearts are the same, and some are unique to the recipient.  This partner requested some black hearts, and I love how they came out!

One of the heart swappers, Amanda, is also in the Journal Cover Swap  that I organized; that's how I came to find out that her husband has just been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.  Amanda commented on one of the hearts in the gallery:  "I like the hope one because that word has recent significance for me..."

I've talked with her a bit about the diagnosis through private message on Craftster, because I know exactly what she's going through--two years ago, my husband was also diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.  The treatment was long and difficult, and it was a very bad time in the life of our family, but he is now healthy again!  Thank God!

 So, my crafty readers, I have an idea:  I want to send Amanda a package of hearts for her jar of hearts. Would you be able to help me?  My thought is that everyone who wants to contribute would make one or two hearts, out of anything you want (fabric, felt, clay, paper, yarn, wood...whatever), and incorporate the word "hope" on one (or both) of them.  You could write it, stamp it, attach it as a label, embroider it...I know you will think of a way to do it.

Then send the hearts to me, and I will package them and send them to Amanda. Before I send them, I will take pictures and post them here.  Here's a summary:

1.  Make one or two hearts, one or both of which have the word "hope" on it. (I don't know her religious beliefs, so let's avoid any mention of anything religious).  The heart can be any size, up to 4" in diameter.
2.  E-mail me (click my name at the right, you will see the link to my email on the next page) to tell me you have hearts for Amanda, and I will e-mail you my mailing address.  You can do that before you make the hearts if you wish.
3.  Please send your hearts no later than November 15th.  That's two weeks from today.  If you would like to add a little note for Amanda, please do.  I will package the hearts so the maker will be identified by your first name and state (or country), and/or Craftster username.
4.  If some hearts are slow to arrive, I will send a second package to Amanda, so don't worry if you live in Outer Mongolia!  Cancer treatment takes quite a while, so she will be needing regular reminders that people are supporting her.
5.  I plan to send the first package right after Thanksgiving, so check back here for an update!  And thank you in advance for your help.  I'm really looking forward to seeing what you create!